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African Women in Law is the first empirical study to offer a comprehensive and contextually rich portrait of African women in the legal profession across sectors.
It challenges dominant, Western-centric narratives about gender and the legal profession.
Introduces original frameworks that will reshape how African women in law are studied.
Reviews & Endorsements
Professor Obiora Chinedu Okafor
Edward B. Burling Chair in International Law and
Institutions, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies; Former UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity; Former Chair of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee
Dr. Dawuni has produced a historically grounded, empirically rich, deeply insightful, and highly analytical account of the inspiring triumphs—amid tribulations and challenges—of African women in law. The book is as theoretically sophisticated as it is firmly rooted in the diverse contexts that shape the lives and careers of the accomplished women it examines. It is no surprise that this outstanding work breaks new ground on an understudied topic. A remarkable and invaluable addition to the literature.
Muna Ndulo, William Nelson Cromwell
Professor of International and Comparative Law,
Cornell Law School, USA; Elizabeth and Arthur Reich Director of the Leo and Arvilla Berger
International Legal Studies Program, Cornell Law School
Across Africa and globally, significant disparities persist between men and women in terms of basic rights and the power to shape the future. This book underscores the importance of examining gender, public policy, and development through a historical lens. It challenges the dominant narrative that portrays African women as inescapable victims of patriarchy by tracing their pre-colonial positionality and agency through to their current participation in the legal profession. Despite their late entry into the field and the gendered challenges they encounter, African women have made remarkable contributions to the profession. With discussions on ideas, resources, experiences, and best practices, this book is an essential read for scholars and policymakers committed to designing policies that promote gender equality.
Dr. Willy Mutunga, D.Jur
Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, 2011–2016; Professor of Law at Kabarak Law School
This book is built on a strong intellectual foundation and makes a significant contribution to socio-legal scholarship by introducing a new theoretical framework: matri-legal feminism. This innovative approach serves as an analytical tool for examining African legal systems through the lens of lived experiences, matrilineal strengths, and the agency of African women. By moving beyond existing Western feminist paradigms, matri-legal feminism seeks to reshape our understanding and conceptualization of gender, womanhood, and law within African contexts.
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